Letters, Feb. 11, 2015

USD 410 could take $182,000 hit

Thursday, Feb. 5, Gov. Brownback announced a 1.5 percent allotment?a cut by the governor not requiring legislative approval?to public schools in Kansas effective this budget year.

The result was a reduction of $28.3 million from Kansas schools and $38,000 from USD 410. The legislature also recently passed H Sub for SB 4, which will delay capital outlay state aid for schools amounting to more than $75,000 for USD 410.

Additionally, Senate Bill 71, currently being considered by the Senate Ways and Means Committee, would change the formula for calculating local option budget state aid. This proposal would further reduce funding to USD 410 by over $69,000 this budget year.

In all, our district is facing $182,000 in possible cuts and delayed payments. Unless our governor and legislature reverse course on income tax cuts approved in 2012, I fear these cuts and delays are only the beginning.

Last June, 80 percent of USD 410 voters approved increasing our LOB with the understanding that state aid would come to USD 410 providing property-tax relief. This additional state aid was ordered by the Kansas Supreme Court as a result of the Gannon Court Case.

The Marion County Clerk?s office has confirmed an overall property tax decrease was achieved. The levy for USD 410 dropped from 62.6 mills to 60.2 mills as a direct result of the increased LOB state aid.

It should concern all of us in the Durham, Hillsboro, and Lehigh communities that our schools are facing even further cuts due to a self-inflicted budgetary crisis created by our state leaders.

I encourage all citizens to let our legislators know that quality schools require suitable funding.

Steve Noble

USD 410 superintendent

Hillsboro

Richard had a kind, good heart

Richard passed away Dec. 26. He was a good friend and neighbor. He had a kind and good heart, a good personalty, a great sense of humor. He would do without so someone else wouldn?t be without.

You could talk to him about anything and everything. He kept your personal things to himself and never passed judgement.

He had one fault: Letting people take advantage of his good nature. Most people he knew did that. They were not his friends.

He?s gone now. I know Richard is at peace and no one is taking advantage of him.

Rest in peace, my friend.

Darlene Sullivan

Hillsboro

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